JJ Churchill has added two more Makino 5-axis machining centres to its machining cell, which is now up to four Makinos, in order to meet niche orders in the aerospace industry.
JJ Churchill’s four Makino VIPER grinding centres have been positioned so that they are ready to accept automation and are also ready for the addition of a further three Makino grinders in the future.
Andrew Churchill, managing director, JJ Churchill, said: “The work we are most interested in carrying out is always a challenge and often one where our customers have found it difficult to find the capability.”
“We like to push the boundaries of grinding, milling and turning, in the most difficult materials, geometries and dimensions, that’s why we have reorganised our factory around the Makino cell, in order to constantly achieve the high expectations which our customers require.”
Mr Churchill added that robotic loading of the new machines is key in enabling JJ Churchill to achieving global cost competitiveness.
The investment completes a £2.3m investment in new technology, people and systems to meet new orders from existing and new customers in the aerospace industry.
JJ Churchill is focused on ‘sticky niches’ within the aerospace market, niches which require a high degree of technical and organisational skill, including work involving difficult geometries, difficult dimensions and challenging materials.
This new investment in Makino 5-axis VIPER CNC grinding capacity, linked to advanced information-management systems, enables the machining of complex, precision components in advanced nickel-based alloys and single crystal components.
The company’s aerospace sales have increased by more than 60% in the past year and the sector now contributes two thirds of the company’s total sales.
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